Delta Air Lines faced significant disruptions on Monday, canceling hundreds of flights as the airline continues to recover from a global software outage that grounded and delayed flights over the weekend.
On Sunday alone, Delta canceled approximately 1,300 flights and delayed 1,600, according to data from FlightAware. The airline had previously canceled over 3,500 Delta and Delta Connection flights from Friday to Saturday. As of 8 a.m. ET on Monday, Delta had already canceled 626 flights and delayed 144, amounting to about 20% of its scheduled operations. In contrast, American Airlines reported only 38 canceled flights and 155 delays, or around 5% of its operations.
The disruption originated from a flawed software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike late Thursday. This update inadvertently affected Microsoft Windows operating systems used by many corporate clients, leaving them unable to access critical systems and facing issues such as the “Blue Screen of Death.”
The impact of the outage extended across various sectors, including healthcare, delivery services, retail, and finance, but airlines and airports experienced the most significant disruption. On Friday, over 46,000 flights were delayed and an additional 5,171 were canceled, with Delta being particularly hard-hit.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian expressed regret over the situation, stating, “Canceling a flight is always a last resort, and something we don’t take lightly. I want to apologize to everyone who has been impacted.” He emphasized Delta’s commitment to connecting the world and acknowledged the challenges travelers face during disruptions.
Bastian noted that Delta relies on a substantial number of applications that utilize Microsoft Windows, including tools related to crew tracking, which struggled to adapt during the system shutdown. To assist customers, Delta has implemented a travel waiver allowing free flight changes and has provided meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, and transportation.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg highlighted on social media that his department received numerous complaints regarding Delta’s response to the disruptions, stating that the airline is expected to offer refunds, free rebooking, and timely reimbursements for food and lodging to affected passengers. He added, “No one should be stranded at an airport overnight or stuck on hold for hours waiting to talk to a customer service agent.”